6 Things To Avoid When Arguing With Your Partner

6 Things To Avoid When Arguing With Your Partner

One of the greatest problems with arguments is that people easily get offended, often for a very good reason. It is hard to keep the emotions out of the conflict in which you feel like your own personality or character is threatened. It is also hard to back down when faced with an adversary you fear might interpret this as a sign of weakness.

On the other hand, keep in mind that this “adversary” is someone who is closest to you in the whole world, in fact, it is often someone with whom you spend most of your waking hours. Therefore, you simply can’t allow for things to take their own course. The damage of making a major mistake can create irreparable consequences. In order to avoid getting the worst out of it, there are several things you should avoid when arguing with your partner.

Changing the tone of your voice too much

The first thing you need to understand is the fact that your posture and the tone of your voice (the non-verbal communication), speak as much as the words you choose. Raising your voice too much can seem too aggressive and make the other party feel threatened. When threatened, people often reach for desperate measures and say things they can’t take back later on.

On the other hand, you shouldn’t lower your voice either. Speaking in a calmer voice is known to infuriate the other party, seeing as how they might interpret that you’re not emotionally invested in an argument that they care deeply about. It can also paint you as condescending, which is even worse. Needless to say, this will infuriate them even more, which is also something that might backfire. In an argument, you should simply try to act as normally as possible, in order to try and save as much as you can.

Avoid veiled threats

In an argument, both parties have their judgments clouded, which makes people wrongly assume that their senses are, as well. A person who is agitated, however, often has heightened senses, which means that a veiled threat never goes undetected. The problem with this kind of threat is that, due to their nature, they appear even worse than their transparent counterparts. There’s something about the subtlety with which they’re spoken that makes it all much more real than threats spoken in anger. In other words, there’s a belief that in order for a person to state a veiled threat, they have to come up with it in advance. Needless to say, this raises the overall seriousness of the issue to a whole new level.

Don’t make threats you aren’t willing to back up

6 Things To Avoid When Arguing With Your Partner

Bluffing is a tactic that works in many industries and games, however, a relationship is neither of these things. A threat to break the relationship off is probably the one that should never be uttered in the first place, yet, sometimes this might be for the best. If you see no other way out, it might be the right time to talk to family lawyers about your options and optimal future course of action. Keep in mind that a threat that you use as an intimidation technique might be welcomed by the other party. In turn, this can reveal that your partner harbors feelings that never crossed your mind (at least not seriously), in the worst way possible.

Bringing up previous arguments

Another thing you need to understand is that in order for your partner to be 100 percent honest with you, they need to be comfortable speaking up. If you keep bringing up details from previous arguments or constantly start reflecting on their previous mistakes, they might start being careful about what they share with you. In time, this leads to them stockpiling their feelings, or even worse, sharing these things with other people instead of telling you directly. Once you get other people involved in your private matters, you’re in for a whole new scale of trouble. This brings us to the next thing you should avoid…

Including other people

Bringing up other people is something that permanently damages relationships. We’re not just talking about jealousy (at least not in a traditional sense). Talking about your SO’s friend or a family member in a heat of a moment is something they will never forget, long after you’ve made your peace. It is even more important not to slander your SO in front of your friends and family. After all, you might get back together in an hour, while people you make these confessions to might never look at your partner the same way again. In this way, you’re only making your life more difficult.

Abuse should be a cue to leave

Finally, we’re not just talking about the physical abuse that comes from the other person but also the one that comes from within. During some of the most heated arguments, you might feel the urge to do something physical, even if it’s just a gesture of slamming doors or breaking an item. Remember that harboring these feelings is not a good thing, which is why you need to reexamine whether you should stay in a relationship that makes you feel this way. While this may seem a bit harsh, as soon as you sense that actual abuse might become a factor to weigh in, it might be the time for you to leave. In this way, you will not only protect your partner but also yourself from having to live with the consequences of your actions.

In Conclusion

6 Things To Avoid When Arguing With Your Partner

At the end of the day, every couple has its problems, which is why learning how to handle them is one of the most important tests that every couple faces. Learning how to coordinate your activities during a Hawaiian holiday is a skill you need to employ once every several years or once upon a lifetime, whereas learning how to resolve conflicts without aggression might be something you need on a daily basis. Apart from this, there are two things you need to remember. First, the real compromise is the one in which both sides are left equally dissatisfied. Second, sometimes the end is indeed a better option.

6 Things To Avoid When Arguing With Your Partner

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15 Comments

  1. When the insults come out and the topic is lost, I am out! I hate arguing in the first place.

  2. These tips are pretty spot on. These comments usually lead to some pretty nasty results.

  3. Heather S Brodbeck

    These are all good tips are couples at any stages in their relationship. Communication is the key and we learn differently and then learn together as we date and then marry. Learning how to argue is just as important as it is to talk about important issues.

  4. Arguments are part of any relationship. The good thing with us, we learned from our previous mistakes caused by arguments and move on. That’s how we grow together.

  5. When we speak in anger we often say things that we later regret. Threats is one of those things. Arguing is never any fun but it happens even in the best relationships.

  6. These are good tips for couples. It is always a good idea to read things like this in preparation of things to come. Today is my 15th Wedding Anniversary and yet I know that there will be arguments to come but I feel like we learn as we go and everything stems from love for us, even arguments.

  7. I agree with all these. Communication is important but we also should be mindful of these points. The key is to listen more than talk.

  8. These are all perfect tips. I think it’s healthy to argue sometimes, but there are limits that shouldn’t be crossed.

  9. Not everyone has good communication skills, and it makes it tough to have discussions without getting heated. It helps to have some good tips and work through arguments instead of just fighting or walking away.

  10. Love this so much! Very helpful ways for couples to avoid traitorous waters and to live healthy lives with each other!

  11. These are great tips. I think it is so important when having arguments to fight fair and listen. Also to choose your words carefully. You can’t take back words.

  12. These are some good tips, I have to admit I often see red in an argument which of course gets me into trouble, I’ll have to try and remember some of these bits.

  13. These are all important things to remember when you’re married or in a relationship. Arguments are going to happen no matter how much you love your partner. We’re only human. You want to be able to continue forward after it’s over, though.

  14. This is such important information. For me, the big trigger is when someone brings something (or someone) else into the argument. That is very unproductive and can lead to all kinds of damaging issues.

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